Hang Duong Cemetery
Con Dao
An immortal epic amidst the ocean — the eternal resting place of thousands who fell for the nation's independence and freedom.
Learn moreCemetery Introduction
Hang Duong Cemetery (Con Dao) is not only a historical relic complex but also a witness to the brutal crimes of colonialism and imperialism. Spanning approximately 20 hectares, it is the eternal resting place of thousands who fell for the nation's independence and freedom.
Formation History
Hang Duong Cemetery spans roughly 20 hectares. According to estimates, about 20,000 prisoners rest at Con Dao, though not all of them are buried at Hang Duong. The first burial ground was established at Chuong Bo (the Skull Field relic), later moved to Hang Keo. After 1934, and especially during 1941 — the period of the "White Terror" following the Nam Ky Uprising — thousands of prisoners were killed. When the Hang Keo burial ground became nearly full, the French colonial authorities opened Hang Duong Cemetery as an additional burial site for prisoners.
Construction and restoration of Hang Duong Cemetery began on December 19, 1992. It is divided into four zones: A, B, C, and D (Zone B is further split into B1 and B2), with 1,922 graves — 714 of which are identified.
Scale and Structure of Grave Zones
Hang Duong Cemetery spans 190,000 m². According to estimates, around 20,000 prisoners rest at Con Dao. The cemetery is currently divided into four zones: A, B, C, and D (Zone B is further split into B1 and B2).
Most graves date from before 1945. Resting place of comrade Le Hong Phong, patriot Nguyen An Ninh, and People's Armed Forces Hero Vu Van Hieu.
Most graves date from 1945 to 1960. Resting place of People's Armed Forces Heroes Vo Thi Sau, Ho Van Nam, Cao Van Ngoc, Pham Thanh Trung, Ngo Den, and Luu Chi Hieu. The remaining section of Zone B (also known as Zone B2) holds graves from the resistance against the United States.
Most graves date from 1960 to 1975. Resting place of People's Armed Forces Heroes Le Van Viet, Tran Thi Thanh, Le Tu Kinh, Phan Dinh Tu, Huynh Tan Loi, and Vietnamese Heroic Mother Tran Thi Tan.
Graves relocated from Hon Cau, Hang Keo cemetery, and other sites across Con Dao. Includes the graves of People's Armed Forces Heroes such as Tran Van Thoi and Tran Van Bay.
Architectural Highlights and Sculptural Art
Ceremonial Ground
To honor the heroic martyrs and Vietnamese patriots who gallantly sacrificed at Con Dao, and to denounce the crimes of the Con Dao prison system through two resistance wars against French colonialism and American imperialism. A highly symbolic system of artistic works has been built, including the Ceremonial Ground with the main monument and the Con Dao historical bas-relief, and the Stone Garden with the Loyalty Statue (sharing-the-shirt), the Hope Statue, and the Indomitable bas-relief. The Ceremonial Ground of Hang Duong Cemetery and the main monument are designed as stylized interpretations of the graves and tombstones in the cemetery, symbolizing a giant grave and tombstone. + Main Monument: 9m × 9m base; 21.6m tall with a 1.26m top. The monument is assembled from 144 stone slabs, each carved with iconic images from thousands of years of Vietnamese cultural history (from prehistory to the present). + Historical Bas-relief: 2m tall, 30m long, depicting iconic scenes from Con Dao Prison throughout 113 years — from the prison's founding to Con Dao's full liberation on May 1, 1975. + Stone Garden + Loyalty Statue (Sharing-the-Shirt) + Historical Bas-relief
Stone Garden
At its center stands the "Indomitable" bas-relief. One side exposes the horrific crimes of colonial forces at Con Dao prison; the other depicts the resilient and indomitable spirit of revolutionary fighters.
Loyalty Statue (Sharing the Shirt)
Standing 4.5m tall, inspired by the story of "sharing one's shirt even in death," symbolizing the unbreakable bond of comradeship and absolute loyalty to revolutionary ideals.
Hope Statue
Standing 4.5m tall, depicting the spirit of optimism and unwavering faith in victory, even when facing the harshest prison conditions.
Great Bell (Đại Hồng Chung)
The Great Bell weighs 9,400 kg, stands 3.97m tall, with a base diameter of 1.93m, cast from pure copper at the foundry of artisan Nguyen Van Sinh (Hue City). The bell's body is engraved with wave patterns and bodhi leaves, and decorated with the four sacred creatures: Dragon — Unicorn — Turtle — Phoenix.
Historical Value and Significance
With thousands of named and unnamed graves, Hang Duong Cemetery is a heroic epic of patriotism. It stands as powerful testimony to the noble sacrifices of those who gave their blood and bones to write the glorious pages of national history.
Hang Duong Cemetery was specially recognized as a Nationally Important Heritage Site by the Ministry of Culture and Information on April 29, 1979. On May 10, 2012, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 548/QD-TTg, officially ranking it as a Special National Heritage Site.
Today, Hang Duong Cemetery is not only a spiritual destination for future generations to pay tribute and remember, but also a sacred address for educating the eternal patriotic tradition of the Vietnamese people.
Con Dao Temple
Throughout 113 years of history, the Con Dao prison system was known as "Hell on Earth," where countless generations of Vietnamese patriots were imprisoned and tortured. The Con Dao Temple was built as a sacred spiritual symbol of reverence amidst the ocean.
Architectural Highlights and Cultural Space
Con Dao Temple is a beautiful intersection of traditional temple architecture and distinctive Southern Vietnamese cultural elements.
The main temple follows the Southern Vietnamese connected-pavilion style with an inner courtyard, a two-story structure with 8 upswept curved roofs for the front hall and inner sanctum, with a built area of 1,253m². Additional structures — the left and right wings, the temple management building, the offering house, the Five-Peak Lake, the Temple Lake, and other auxiliary facilities — bring the total built area to 2,057m². The temple garden spans over 21,000m², planted with a rich variety of trees representing all three regions of Vietnam. The interior worship arrangement follows Vietnamese cultural tradition, strictly adhering to Southern Vietnamese ritual customs, with the temple laid out in the shape of the character Nhi (二).
Unique Architecture
The complex comprises 10 majestic structures: Four Pillars, Temple Gate, Bell Tower, Left Wing, Right Wing, Front Hall, Inner Sanctum, Offering House, Five-Peak Lake, and Temple Lake.
Great Bell
A massive bell weighing 9,400kg, standing 3.97m tall with a base diameter of 1.93m, cast from pure copper by artisan Nguyen Van Sinh (Hue City), adorned with wave patterns and the four sacred creatures: Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle, Phoenix.
Cultural Heritage
Total compound area of 30,040m², with 3,760m² of built structures. Construction began on December 6, 2009, and was inaugurated on November 20, 2011.
Scale and Construction
Construction officially began on December 6, 2009, and was inaugurated on November 20, 2011. The temple sits on a vast compound with a total area of 30,040m², of which 3,760m² is built area. The bell tower features distinctive Southern Vietnamese temple motifs, sponsored by VietinBank.
The bell's resonance from Con Dao Temple is not only a prayer for the departed souls but also a wake-up call, reminding present and future generations to forever remember the price of peace.
The Immortal Inscription on the Bell
Cast in relief on the Great Bell in Vietnamese script is a heroic and deeply moving inscription — a work penned by Professor Vu Khieu, Hero of Labor:
Today
The bell rings far: From the heroic island The bell echoes: Amidst the sky of great righteousness Over a hundred years of heroic ambition Over twenty thousand sacred souls of martyrs In the sky, stars blaze brightly In hell below, the demons are drowned
How brave
In prison, steadfast and resolute Before the enemy, heroic and valiant Carrying on the spirit of ages past Gathering the essence of mountains and rivers For the people, unwavering through life and death Before the cause, counting no sacrifice
Now we know
When the soul and character have risen high Then independence and freedom are ever more precious Ever more determined to save the nation and destroy the foe Joining forces to move mountains and fill seas The road to success, leveling all hardship The peak of victory, resounding through the century
And tomorrow
Remembering the past, the debt of gratitude grows heavier Looking at the old land, tears of blood not yet dry On the homeland of victorious prosperity Amidst a world of peace and friendship The bronze bell forever echoes the ancestors The mirror of Con Dao eternally illuminates posterity
Regulations & Opening Hours
Please follow the regulations to maintain the solemnity of the cemetery
Opening Hours
Monday - Sunday (including holidays)
Monday - Sunday (including holidays)
Important Notes
- Visitors should arrive early to have enough time for a full visit
- Bring water and sunscreen as the area is sunny
- You can bring fresh flowers to offer at martyr graves
- Wear comfortable sports shoes or sandals
- Public restrooms and free parking available
Visiting Regulations
1. Proper Attire
Please wear appropriate and respectful clothing when entering the cemetery and temple area.
2. Maintain Cleanliness
Do not litter, maintain public hygiene and protect the environment.
3. Keep Order and Silence
Do not make noise, keep silent and solemn in the cemetery area.
4. No Pets Allowed
Do not bring pets into the cemetery area to ensure solemnity.
5. Follow Instructions
Follow the guidance of the management and staff at the cemetery.
6. Reduce Plastic Waste
Do not use plastic bags or single-use plastic products within the cemetery area.
7. No Burning of Votive Offerings
Do not burn votive paper or ritual offerings within the cemetery area to ensure fire safety, protect the environment, and preserve a civilized atmosphere for commemorative activities.
Thank you for following the regulations
Your cooperation helps us maintain the solemnity and sanctity of the cemetery, the resting place of heroic martyrs.
Visiting Route
Visiting route and ceremonies for Hang Duong Cemetery and Con Dao Temple, designed for first-time visitors and groups organizing commemorative events.
Hang Duong Cemetery Visit Route
Approximately 45 minutes
At the Ceremonial Ground
Gather and arrange the group to perform the ceremonies: reading the memorial speech, observing a moment of silence, offering incense, and listening to the cemetery's historical narration.
Visit the grave zones (in order A - B - C - D)
- Zone A: Offer incense at the graves of comrade Le Hong Phong, patriot Nguyen An Ninh, People's Armed Forces Hero Vu Van Hieu, and other graves resting in Zone A.
- Zone B: Offer incense at the graves of Heroine Vo Thi Sau, Cao Van Ngoc, Ho Van Nam, Luu Chi Hieu… and other graves resting in Zone B.
- Zones C & D: Offer incense at the graves of People's Armed Forces Heroes Le Van Viet, Tran Thi Thanh, Tran Van Thoi, Tran Van Bay… and other graves resting in Zones C and D.
Con Dao Temple Visit Route
Approximately 30 minutes
At the Great Bell House
Gather to listen to the temple's introductory narration.
Bell-ringing ritual
The group leader rings one round of the bell (9 strikes).
Incense offering in the courtyard
Delegates offer incense at the censer in the temple courtyard.
Visit inside (Front Hall and Inner Sanctum)
Offer incense at the altars of President Ho Chi Minh, former General Secretary Le Hong Phong, the People's Armed Forces Heroes, and the communal altar of all patriotic martyrs and compatriots.
Important note for visiting groups
Groups wishing to organize a formal memorial ceremony should register in advance (at least half a day in office hours) by calling +84 254 3830 517 for support and guidance from the management.
Contact
Contact us if you have questions or need support
Contact Information
Phone
Address
No. 02 Nguyen Hue Street, Ward 9, Con Dao District, Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province